Machine for drilling and tapping watch-balances



(No Model.) 4 Sheet-Sheet 1.

E. A. MARSH.-

MAGHINE FOR DRILLING AND TAPPING WATCH BALANCES.

No. 357,398. I Patented Feb. 8, 1887.

(No Model) V 4 SheetsSheet 2. E. A. MARSH MACHINE. FOR DRILLING AND.TAPPING WATCH BALANCES. No. 857,398.

Patented Feb. 8,1887.

WITNESSES.

N. PETERS Fholo-Lhhognpher, Waihlngion p. c

(NQ Model.) 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. A. MARSH. MACHINE POE DRILLING AND TAPPING WATCH BALANCES. No.357,398.

Patented Feb. 8, 1887.

1111/1/11/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/11/1/ wvufiii mllwmmmllmlmwp WITNESSES- (NoModem 4 sheets-sheet 4.

E. A. MARSH. MAGHINE FOR DRILLING AND TAPPING WATCH BALAN GES No.357,398. I Patented Feb. 8', 1 887.

d I 7 5 Z i W l/fim I NITE EDWARD A. MARSH, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR DRILLlNG AND TAPPING WATCH-BALANCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,398, dated February8, 1887.

Application tiled Octobcr18, 1886.

To (ZZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. MARsH, of Newton, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Drilling or Tapping IVatch-Balances,of which the following is a specification.

The balance-wheels of the better grades of watches are composed of abody of steel forming the arms and a portion ,of the rim; but the steelrim is surrounded by a band of metal of much greater expansive qualitythan steel when subject to the action of heat. The employment of the twometals causes the balance to be self-adjusting, so that when the actionof heat shall have expanded the balance the peculiar construction of therim will cause it to bend inwardly toward the center of the wheel, sothat the weight of the rim shall be carried nearer to the center ofmotion than when the balance is not expanded. Theobject of. thisconstruction is to compensate for the varying. length of the hair-springinduced by changes of temperature. To render this compensation morenearly perfect, it is the practice to make a series of screw-holes atintervals around the rim and to insert therein small screws withsomewhat heavy heads. These holes have hitherto been made'singly bya'drill and afterward tapped or threaded singly by a tap, the balancebeing held on'a spindle provided with an index to govern the position ofthe balance in relation to the drill or tap. One hole only has beendrilled at a time, so that the time required to complete the drilling ofa single balance would be the time required for one hole multiplied bythe total number of holes required ordinarily about twenty-two.

My invention has for its object to provide a machine capable of drillingor tapping all the holes in a balancerim simultaneously; and to this endit consists, first, in the combination of a holder adapted to support abalance-rim with a series of longitudinally-movable tap or drill holdingspindles arranged radially with relation to said holder, means forrotating said spindles simultaneously, and means for moving them endwisesimultaneously to cause the tools held thereby to enter the balance-rim.

The invention also consists in certain combinations of parts in anorganized machine.

holes, whereby the direction of rotation of the spindles isautomatically reversed, when the tapping of the holes is completed,towithdraw the taps from the holes.

The invention also consists in the means employed for stopping theoperation of the machine after the withdrawal of the taps from thebalance, all of which I will now proceed to describe.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical central section of abalance-tapping machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents asection on line x at,

Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a section on line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4represents a sectional view of a part of the balance-holder and of abalance thereon, and a side View of a part of one of the spindles and atap therein. resents a top view ofa balance in which screws have beeninserted. Fig. 6 represents a section on line 2 2, Fig.1, and a planview of that portion of the machine which is located below the plane ofsaid line. Fig. 7 represents a plan view of a machine organized fordrilling the holes preliminary to the tapping operation performed by themachine represented in the preceding figures. Fig. 8 represents asection on line a." 00, Fig. 7. Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are detailed viewsof an automatic stop-motion used ina machine for drilling. Fig. 12 is anenlarged section of one of the tap-spindles, showing the yielding endwhich receives pressure from cam q.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

In describing my invention I will first refer to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,and 6, which represent it as adapted to-perform the operation of tap-=ping previouslydrilled holes, and will afterward describe the inventionas applied to a machine organized only for drilling.

In the drawings, (t represents the circular bed or frame of the machine,in the center of which is located avertical stud or balanceholder, b,which is vertically adjustable in a socket, c, affixed to the bed a. Themeans here shown for adjusting the studb are a screw, d, passing looselythrough the bottom of the socket 0 and engaging with a tapped orificeinthe bottom ofthe stud b, and a spring, 6, located under the stud andpressing the latter Fig. 5repupwardly as far as permitted by the head ofthe screw, which is pressed by the spring against the bottom of thesocket. The rotation of the screw in one direction willdraw the studdownwardly, while the rotation of the screw in the opposite directionwill permit the spring to force the stud upwardly. Any other suitableadjusting devices may be employed. The stud b has a central orificewhich receives a pin, f. Said pin enters the central orifice in the armsor crossbar of the balance i, as shown in Fig. 4-, the rim of thebalance resting on the upper end of the stud and being held thereagainstby a removable cap, 9.

Journalcd in hearings in the frame a are a series of tap-holdingspindles, h, radiating from the balance-holding stud b, and arranged topresent to the rim of the balance the taps which they hold, so as toform threads in a series of properlyarranged holes previously drilled insaid rim, the spindles being longitudinally movable, so that the tapsare capable of entering and receding from said holes simultaneously.

Near the outer ends of the spindles h, and on the same axial centers,are located hollow sleevesj, on the outer ends of which are formedbevel-pinions k, which mesh with a circular rack or ring-gear, Z,concentric with the balance held on the stud I). Said rack or ringgearis fitted to rotate on a circular seat or hearing on the frame a, andhas its periphery formed as a spur-gear, which meshes with a smallerspur-gear, m, on the main driving and governing shalt n.

Fitted to rotate on a circular seat or hearing on the frame is a ring,0, which is concentric with the ring Z, and located at a lower planethan the latter. The periphery of the ring 0 is cutasa spur-gear, whichmeshes with a pinion, p, on the drivingshaftn. To the upper face of thering 0 are attached a series of cams or inclines, q, the inner edges ofwhich bear against the outer ends of the tap-spindles h, and are formedto move said spindles endwise toward the balance-holder b when the ring0 is rotated. The spindles are capable of sliding endwise in the hollowsleeves j, and are connected with said sleeves by a groove and feather,or other well-known means, which will insure the rotation of thespindles by the sleeves, and at the same time permit the independentendwise movement of the spindles in the sleeves. The spindles arepressed outwardly or away from the balance-holder by springs 1', wherebytheir outer ends are caused to bear with a yielding pressure against thecams or inclines q.

It will be seen that when power is applied to the drivingshaft, torotate the same in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig 6, therings Z and 0 will be rotated, respectively, by the gears m and p. Thesleeves j and the spindles are simultaneously rotated by the ring Z, andat the same time the spindles are simultaneously moved inwardly by thecams or inclines g on the ring 0. The taps are thus simultaneouslyrotated and caused to enter and thread the holes in the balance-rimuntil balance faster than is consistent with the proper performance. oftheir work.

The means for automatically reversing the rotation of the drivingshaftare as follows: The driving-shaft n is supported in a vertical positionby two arms or bearings, s s, projecting from an upright standard, if,on the bed plate of the machine, the lower end of said shaft resting ona step, a, in said bed. On the shaft 12, between the bearings s s, aretwo loose pulleys, o if, on the hubs of which are formed clutch members'22 o. Said pulleys are driven in opposite directions by belts or othersuitable connections with a primeinotor.

w represents-a clutch member adapted both to rotate with and slide ontheshaftn, between the clutch members 11' v, and formed to engage withsaid members 12 o alternately, and thus cause the shaft or to be rotatedalternately by the pulley o and by thepulley c", said pulleys running inopposite directions, as already described, so that the direction ofrotation of the shaft n is reversed every time the clutch to is movedfrom one pulley to the other.

The driving-shaft a has out upon its lower portion a screw-thread, a, ofsomewhat steep pitch. Upon this threaded portion is a nut, I), having anarm through which passes a guide-rod, c, on which are two adjustablestopcollars, d (1, one on either side of said arm. Below the collars d da third collar, 0, is affixed to the guide-rod c. To the collar 6 arepivoted the inner ends of two links, f f, (see Fig. 2,) the outer endsof which are pivoted to cars formed on two springs, gg. Said springs areattached at their upper ends to the lower arm or bearing, 5, in whichthe driving-shaft isjournaled, and their lower ends are free to slip onrests or bearings t" 2', supported by the bed of the machine, thesprings pressing outwardly against said bearings.

The bearings z" are preferably cylinders, eccentrically-attached to armst and capable of being turned so as to vary their lateral positions andthus adjust the pressure of the springs g g.

70 represents a rod fitted to slide in guides in the arms 8 s, andhaving attached to its lower end a slide, Z, which is fitted to move ona dovetail guide, m, affixed to the standard t. On one side of saidslide is formed a dovetail rib or guide, n, on which is fitted to movevertically a smaller slide, 0, which is pivotally connected to themeeting ends of the links f f and to the collar 0, asingle pin servingto connect said links, collar, and slide. To the larger slide, Z, areattached two stops, p 10,

one above and the other below the'slide o.

The sliding rod 713' has an arm, q, rigidly connected to it, said armhaving a forked outer end which is connected by pins 1' 1" to half-ringss s, fitted loosely in the sliding clutch to, the rod It being therebyenabled to raise and lower said sliding clutch.

The operation of this automatic reversing mechanism is as follows: Thesprings g g at all times exert an inward pressure on the outer ends ofthe links ff, which tends to force the meeting ends of said links, andthe slide 0 connected therewith, either upwardly or downwardly from theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 2. WVhe n the links are in saidposition, however, the springs cannot act, but remain inoperative untilthe said meeting ends are slightly raised or lowered by an upward ordownward movement of the rod 0, which is effected by the movement of thenut b on the threaded portion of the driving-shaft, and throws the linkssufliciently out of line to enable the springs g to press the outer endsof the links inwardly, and thereby raise or lower their meeting ends andthe slide 0 connected therewith, and cause said slide to strike one orthe other of the stops 1) on the slide Z, and give said slide, the rodis, connected therewith, and the sliding clutch member 10, connected bythe arm q to said rod, a sudden upward or downward motion, thusdisengaging said clutch from one pulley and engaging it with the other.To describe this operation more specifically, suppose the drivingshaftto bein rotation in the direction required to raise the nut 11, andsuppose said nut to have pressed the links into the position shown infull lines in Fig. 2. A slight continuation of the upward movement ofthe nut will throw the links ff out of line by elevating their meetingends, whereupon the springs ggimme'diately act and still further elevatethe meeting ends of the links and the slide 0, the links being thuscaused to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and theslide 0 being caused to strike the upper stop 1) (on the slide l) andraise said slide, the rod It, and the sliding clutch member 10, thusforcing the latter into engagement with the clutch ,member of the upperpulley, 'v. The rotation of the driving-shaft n is thus reversed, andthe nut 11 is caused to move downwardly until its arm strikes the lowercollar, 0, and depresses the meeting ends of the links f f far enough toenable the springs g g to force said meeting ends and the slide offarther downwardly and cause said slide to strike the lower stop 19,

I and thus depress the rod and sliding clutch member until the latterengages with the lower pulley, c, and again reverses the rotation of thedriving-shaft. In practice, however, I do not allow the downwardmovement last described to continue until the sliding clutch is engagedwith the lower pulley, 0 but, on the contrary, I automatically agrestsaid downward movement whil e the sliding clutch is midway between thetwo pulleys and disengaged from both, thus stopping the operation of themachine for the removal of the tapped balance and the application ofanother balance to the holder. To-this end I provide a springactuatedstop-pin, t, which is movable in a socket in the standard 2, and isforced by its spring into the path through which the slide Z moves, andarrests the downward movement of said slide and of the sliding clutchconnected thereto before the sliding clutch engages with the lowerpulley. The operation of the machine is thereby arrested until the pin tis withdrawn by a suitable lever, a, whereupon the springs g g, actingthrough the links f.and the other intermediate devices, complete thedepression of the sliding clutch and engage it with the lower pulley.The operation then continues as above described, the nut b being raiseduntil the next reversal of the rotation of the driving-shaft, and thendepressed until the operation is arrested by the stoppin. If thestop-pin be held back and not allowed to act, the machine will operatecontinuously, running first in one direction and then in the other. I

It is obvious that my invention is not limited to this particularreversing mechanism, as any other suitable mechanism may be used toreverse the rotation of the spindles.

In a machine organized to drill the holes preparatory to tapping noreversing mechanism is required, as the drills ean be readily withdrawnfrom the holes they have formed.

Such a machi-neis shown in Figs. 7 and 8, it being similar to thatalready described so far as the relative arrangement of the spindleshand holder bis concerned; butithas no mechanism for reversing therotation of the spindles. The ring Zis rotated by a belt, a and the ring9 by a worm, b, driven by a belt, 0. The spindles h are provided withsuitable drills, which are guided in entering the balance-rim by a ring,6*, affixed to the balance-holder and concentric with the balance andprovided with holes arranged to receive and steady the drills, and thusinsuretheir accurate entrance into the balance-rim.

I provide an automatic stop-motion to arrest the rotation of the ring 0after the drilling of each balance, such stoppage occurring when saidring is in the position shown in Fig. 6th,at is, after the projectingpart of each cam q has passed the end of the spindle last actuated byit-thus allowing the spindle to be pushed outwardly by its springagainst theinner portion of the neXt cam and withdrawing the drill fromthe balance.

The shaft that carries the worm b is normally loose in the pulley onwhich the drivingbelt 0' runs, and has a clutch member, a with which isadapted to engage a sliding clutch, b which is engaged with and rotatedby said pulley. With the sliding clutch is engaged a IIO thus engage theclutch b with the clutch a and cause the worm and the ring to rotate. Aspring'lateh, i, engages a pin 011 the shipper-bar, and holds it in theposition last described until a pin. if, on the ring 0 strikes saidlatch and displaces it,so as to cause it to release the shipper-bar,whereupon the spring (1 throws it out and stops the ring o,as before.There are as many of the pins k as there are cams q.

I claim 1. The combination of a balanceholder, a

series of toolholding spindles radially arranged with relation to saidholder, mechanism for simultaneously rotating said spindles, andmechanism for moving them endwise to present their tools to abalance-rim, as set forth.

2. The combination of a balance -holder, means, substantially asdescribed, for adjusting the same and holding it in any position towhich it may be adjusted, a series of tool-holding spindles radiallyarranged with relation to said holder, mechanism for rotating saidspindles, and mechanism for moving the spindles endwise to present theirtools to a balance-rim, as set forth.

3. The combination of a balance-holder, a series oftap-holding spindlesradially arranged with relation to said holder, mechanism for rotatingsaid spindles, mechanism for moving said spindles endwise to presenttheir tools to a balance-rim, and mechanism whereby the direction ofrotation and the direction of the endwise movement of the spindles maybe reping the machine after the withdrawal of the taps, as set forth.

5. The combination of a balance-holder, the series of radially-arrangedspindles, the hollow sleeves on said spindles, the ring Z, geared tosaid sleeves, the ring 0, having a series of cams or inclines bearing onthe outer ends of the spindles, and mechanism for rotating said ringsand thereby simultaneously rotating and feeding the spindles, as setforth.

6. The combination of a balanee-holder, the series of radially-arrangedspindles,the hollow sleeves on said spindles, the springs adapted topress the spindles endwise away from the holder, the ring Z, geared tosaid sleeves, the ring 0, having a series of cams or inclines bearing onthe outer ends of the spindles,the driv ing-shaft geared to the rings l0, and meehan' ism for rotating said shaft in opposite directions, asset forth.

7. The combination of the balance-holder, the radiating spindles movableendwise and provided with springs r, the ring I, geared to the spindles,the ring o-;havingaseries of cams, the driving-shaft geared to saidrings, the loose pulleys driven in opposite directions on said shaft andprovided with clutch members, the sliding clutch member connected,asdescribed, to the shaft between said pulleys, the nut mounted on athreaded portion of said shaft, and devices, substantially as described,intermediate of the nut and sliding clutch, whereby the clutch is movedback and forth between said pulleys, as set forth.

8. The eombinati0n,with thebalance-holder, the radiating spindles, thesprings r, and the ringsl 0, all arranged and operating as described, ofthe drivingshaft geared to said rings, the loose pulleys driven inopposite directions on said shaft and provided with clutch members, thesliding clutch between said pulleys, the sliding rod k, connected, asdescribed, to the sliding clutch. the mechanism whereby said rod andclutch are moved alternately in opposite directions, and 'the springstop-pin,whereby the movements of the rod and clutch in one directionare automatically arrested, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 11th day of October, 1886.

EDWARD A. MARSH.

Witnesses:

O. F. BROWN, A. D. HARRISON.

